Apparatus for equalizing the pressure differential between the interior and exterior of a plugged tubing string



Oct. 10, 1961 H. L. COURTNEY 3,003,565

APPARATUS FOR EQUALIZING THE PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OF A PLUGGED TUBING STRING Filed March 2a, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 1 1 I "1 1 L J Horace L. Cour/x7e f I INVENTOR. If ZZQ' ATTOR/VE m Oct. 10, 1961 H. L. COURTNEY 3,003,565

APPARATUS FOR EQUALIZING THE PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OF A PLUGGED TUBING STRING Filed March 28, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ll P 'l I I Zfl F P 7 5 a I 0 a V 1 0 a l v r a a 1* a pr a I a I I J D L 4 //9 o D Q o 6 I! a a v 0 I" /6 2 a f '22 v \E/Q h 1'. '-.'.a El v A 7.

o p h D l B b o h a Z? a 9 0 n P u A D o U A a4 a 4 6 Z 0 a r 0 v p h B A I b o G a A 0 o a a Q n p h g a A g o 0 0 A a A florace L. (cuff/7e INVENT R. a MM 44% ATTOR/VfVJ Oct. 10., 1961 H. L. COURTNEY APPARATUS FOR EQUALIZING THE PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OF A PLUGGED TUBING STRING Filed March 28, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Horace L. (barf/7e INVENTOR.

Oct. 10, 1961 H. L. COURTNEY APPARATUS FOR EQUALIZING THE PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OF A PLUGGED TUBING STRING 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 f/oroce L. (our zney i-iiii/ i Filed March 28, 1958 INV NT R.

3,003,565 Patented Oct. 10, 1961 1 3,003,565 APPARATUS FOR EQUALIZING TI-IE PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OF A PLUGGED TUBING STRING Horace L. Courtney, Victoria, Tern, assignor to Completion Tools, Inc., Victoria, Tex., a corporation of Texas Filed Mar. 28, 1958, Ser. No. 724,590 18 Claims. (Cl. 166-152) This invention rela'tm tothe completion of wells and more particularly to tools for testing and completing wells. This application is a continuation in part of my co-pending applications, Serial Nos. 514,939, now abandoned; 448,418, now abandoned, and 448,419 abandoned or forfeited. P

It is an object of this invention to provide a well tool which is closed to well fluids during running in with valve means for equalizing pressure at the bottom end of the tubing upon downward movement of the tubing relative to a part anchored to the wall of the well.

Another object is to provide a well tool for completing wells suspended froma tubing string and run with any desired fluid cushion and in which the pressure difierential between tubing pressure and well pressure is equalized during settingof the production packer.

: Another object is to provide an apparatus for perforating a selected formulation under atmospheric plusa predetermined additional pressure while isolating the column of fluid in the well fromthe formation and thereafter producing the formation through afull open tubing.

Another object is to provide a well completion tool adapted to be run with any desired water cushion in a closed production tubing, which tool will equalize pressure between the formation to be tested and the tubing bore by movement ofthe tool relative to the production packer to test the casing seal and thereafter provide a full open bore through the tool for running a perforating gun and for producing the perforated formation.

Another object is to provide a testing and production tool adapted to be run on the production tubing, which is either dry or provided with a desired water cushion, which will test the casing seal, permit squeeze cementing if the casing seal is imperfect, thereafter test the recemented casing seal, and then permit perforation and production through a full open bore.

Another object is to testa casing seal and then to perforate the desired formation and after perforation to leave the test packer in the hole to thereby eliminate dropping the column of mud back on the formation and to reduce the number of times the tubing must be run.

Another object is to provide a well completion apparatus which permits testing of the casing seal and isolates the column of mud from the producing formation while it is being perforated and produced with a single run of the production tubing.

Other objects; features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the drawings, the specification and the claims.- t.

In the drawings wherein there are shown illustrative embodimentsof this invention and wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic illustration of a well tool embodying this invention with the parts shown in the position they assume while the tool is being run into the well; 4

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 showing the production packer to have been set and the valve means of this invention to have opened to permit equalization of pressure within and without the tubing below the production packer; r

FIGURE 3 is a view partly. in vertical cross-section and partly in elevation of the lower section of the tool shown in FIGURES l and 2 and illustrating the novel construction of the valve of this invention;

FIGURE 4 is a schematic view illustrating the plugbeing knocked from the bottom of the tubing by the perforating gun;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 illustrating the formation being perforated;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 showing the valves in open position;

FIGURE 7 is a view along the line 7--7 of FIG- URE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a schematic illustration of a different form of well tool in which a packer has been previously set in the well with the remainder of the tool suspended from a production tubing and shown in the process of landing in the packer;

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 8 showing the portion of the tool carried by the tubing string to be fully landed in the packer;

FIGURE 10 is a view similar to FIGURES 8 and 9 showing the portion of the tool suspended from the tub-. ing string to be withdrawn from the packer: i

FIGURE 11 is a view in vertical cross-section through the portion of the tool shown in FIGURES 8 through 10 and suspended from the production tubing;

FIGURE 12 is a view along the lines '1212 of FIG- URE l1-; and

FIGURE 13 is a view along the lines 13 .13 of FIG- URE 11. 8

Referring firstto FIGURES 1 through 7, the invention is illustrated in a tool which includes a conventional hook wall packer 10 which is set by downward movement of the mandrel 19 relative to the remainder of the packer in the conventional manner. A valve assembly 1.1 which depends from the packer is actuated in the last stages of setting packer 10. While the tool is shown as including a packer, it will be appreciated that the packer is ofconventional construction and the invention in this form of tool resides in the remainder of the tool (the valve assembly) and the combination of the valve assembly with a packer in such a manner that the valve assembly is opened as the packer is set. Of course, the valve assembly may be operated by any means which will hook on to the wall and as shown in the modified form of tool, the valve assembly may be opened as it seats in a previously landed packer which forms a part of the tool. 4

The tubing 12 from which the tool is suspended may be run dry or with any desired water cushion. When the proper depth is reached, the tubing string is manipulated in the conventional manner to release the J-slot 13 and commence setting of packet 10. Upon release of the J-slot 13, the slip expander .14 expands slips 15 into engagement with casing !16. Thereafter the annular packer expander 17 expands the packer rubber 18 to seal between the casing and mandrel 19. The packer will then function as a production packer. Shoulder 9 on mandrel 19 will withdraw the expander from behind the slips 15 if it desired to remove the packer.

During the last increment of movement of the mandrel 19 relative to the remainder of packer 10, the valve assembly I I is operated to open the valve and equalize pressure between the open hole below the packer .10 and the interior of mandrel 19.

At this time some of the fluid within the open hole will flow into the tubing and the formation to be produced will be isolated from the colum of drilling fluid in the casing-tubing annulusabove the production packer 10. a I

In accordance with the usual practice, the casing 16 will have been cemented in the well by forcing cement down through the casing and up the annulus between the a ooases well bore and the exterior of the casing. If this casing seal i eemp e the water sen ebe e the tenn t en to be produced will have been isolated and there will be no flow into the tubing after equalization of pressure within n v the e tubin y en s valve Hevever if the water sands are not completely isolated, water will flow into the tubing and indicate that the casing should be rece-mented. Water llp v may reach the surface or the level of fluid withm'the tubing may be determined in any desired manner.

After it is determined that the water seal is holding, a P r i s n 21 ma h u h h h tub as illustrated in'FIGURE 4 and utilized to kneel; out a plug 22 in the bottom of the mandrel. lhis plug is provided with a suitable seal, such as O-ring 23 (FIG; 3) t g l th ev r n 2 th mand el and e plu is he the bottom of the mandrel 19 by friction. After h t les h s s e ne kesi 9141 r e o m of he. wh m e full 91 i erei Pro i d rev h th andr 19 to permit passage of the perforating gun 21. Subsequently the formation is perforated by gun 21 and the formation produced through a full open hole prgvided by mandrel-'19. 4 H i x In FIGURE 5 the perforating gun 21 is shown to have perforated the formation and flow to haye commenced from the formation upwardly through the mandrel 1 9 It will be appreciated that if'th e casing seal is defective the tool may be removed from the well merely by pulling the tubing which will release the packer 1t Thereafter e a et s men a e ized e r ement the a irig, and the tool of this" invention may be rerun to again t t the eee e s a altern t v quee e emen i may be carriedout through the tubing and mandrel in the conventional manner. After recementing, the tubing may be swabbed' to test the seal.

Re err n ow to FIG R 6 and 7, t e det i of the particular valve assembly utilized in this form of the invention are illustrated. v I

To accomplish the method of operation previously outlined it is necessary to provide a well tubing closed W fluids ur i' nni g of he e l d, he ar vi'de 1 u n b e Th e even ng is rm te by removal 'of plug '22 previously referred to.

In order to renigv the plug 22 against the hydraulic lock that will be'pre'sent, it is necessary to first equalize pres'sureacross the plug. is accomplished by the va v 'e mhlv -To maintain the full open bore characteristic of this invention, the' mandrel 15! has formed therewith a valve support 24- in which the valves are mounted. A dust! 25 is provided which opensat its'inner end 215:; into the bore of the mandrel 12 and terminatesat its outer end 25b in a valve seat which is exposed to well fluids below the production packen' A'val've member 26 controls ilow of fluid through duct 25.

Operation of the valve member is controlled by manip ulation of the mandrel relative to a part held stationary byengagment with the casing wall, such as the slips 15 of the packer As above noted, this control of the valve 26 preferably occurs in the last stages of setting the packer 10. Such control may be provided by a member such as the. resiliently loaded aetuator bar 27 secured to and maintaining the valve 25 in closed position and means such as the end '28 of cage engaging the actuator 'bar's27, and overcoming their restraining gr seating action on the valve 26 to permit'the valve 2d to unseat. Each bar 27 is resiliently loaded by asp ring 62 compressed between an 'enlargement flgz o l 21 and valve support 24. While any desired means of holding e valv '2 on s e t wh ma be v eem by the n ement w he m mbe a e by h slim. s ch as cage end 23, may be used, actuator bar 2'1 is preferred.

It will also be appreciated that while the actuator bar 21 is shown to be integral with the valve 26 and valve stem 31, this is for convenience of construction only.

The cage 29 protects the valve assembly and prevents rematu uns e ns Qf va -Ye 2. while the. m bein run in the hole. As shown in FIGURE 1, the cage is carried by the friction members 20 which are in turn carried by slips 15.

It has been found that a valve having a large area suhject to the pressureflifierential across the mandrel 19 w ll resi opf e io of a Y l i h i "It f he for e, desired to 'rna'lt'e the valve seats 'ZSbof small size so that the force necessary to unseat the valve 2'6 be relatively small. i i

As a further aid in avoiding difficulty in unseating valve 26 due to a hydraulic lock, 'the valve may be provided with means for counterbalancing the effect of open hole pressure. In the form illustrated in FIGURE 3 the combination a tuator rod 27 and valve stem 1 xtend through the val upp t 24, and a suitable slidin seal such as .O-ring 32 is provided between the actuate;- 1

rod and valve support. As the cross-sectional area oi the 'bore thro gh alve supp 2 where i is n a by seal 32 is approximately equal to the area of valve seat 25b, there is provided an equal and opposite pressure responsive member connected to the valve member 26, and the efiect of open-hole pressure on the valve member is substantially balanced out.

Qne or more valves of the type just described may be used. In the illustrated embodiment two such valves appear, and it will be understood that the preceding discussion applies to both of such valves.

It is believed that the operation of the complete tool is apparent from the foregoing, but it will be summarized here for convenience. The complete tool is made up on a conventional tubing string and run in a cased well filled with the desired amount of water or oil fluid cushion. At the desired depth the packer 10 is set in the conventional manner by manipulating J-slot lug 13a to permit slip expander 14 to expand slips 15 into engagement with the casing. Thereafter the packer expander 17 expands packer 18 to seal the tubing-casing annulus. In the 'last stages of expansion of packer rubber 18, the abutment member 28 contacts the heads of valve actuators 27 to unseat valves 26. This permits equalization pf pressure across plug 22 in the bottom of the mandrel 19. At this time the well test previously described is conducted. Thereafter plug 22 may be removed and the well perforated in the conventional manner as shown in FIGURE 5. The perforating gun 21 then maybe removed and the well will flow in the usual manner: through the mandrel 19 and tubing 12 to the surface.

Referring now to FIGURES 8 through 13 there is shown a form of this invention in which the'production packer is of the type which is landed in the well before the tubing string is run.

The packer 30 may be of any desired type which is run and -set in the well on either a string or' a wire line. Preferably'in practicing this invention the packer is run and set with a wire lirie. For illustration 'of the type of packer utilized in this form ofthe invention, see Composite Catalog of Oil Field Equipment and Services, 22nd edition, pages 590 and 612. It will be apparent that this packer would need be modified to provide an aeti1- ating shoulder 34 such as shown in the drawings of this application.

After the wire line packer is run and set in the well in the conventional manner, the remainder of the tool is made 'up on the lower end of tubing string 12 afidrun into the well. This remainder of the tool is indicated generally. ,4.

In order to run the string either dry or with a desired water cushion" as contemplated by this invention; the plug 22 is positioned in'the lower end of mandrel 36.

the portion 35 of the tool moves into contact with the packer 30, the tailpipe provided by the lower portion of mandrel 36 moves through packet 30 and the valve assembly 3'!- moves into the upper end of the'p'aclccr'."

Seal means are provided 'on.either. the packer or the valve assembly for sealing between the assemblyfand packer when the assembly is fully landed. If desired, this seal means may be provided by a suitable seal 38 carried on the periphery of the valve assembly and a suitable seal 39 within the bore of the packer 30. Once seal means is operative, the well bore below the packer 30 is isolated from the well bore above the packer. As the seal means previously referred to becomes operative but before the assembly 35 is seated within the packer, the valve actuator 41 which is integral with valve member 42 and extends through duct 45 in valve support 53 engages abutment or shoulder 34 within the packer to unseat valve 42 which is provided at the inlet end of duct 45. This permits equalization of pressure between the interior of the production string 12 and the well below production packer. 30. Well fluid from below the packer passes upwardly through the annulus surrounding tailpipe 36 to the assembly 35. This fluid then passes through a plurality of passageways 43 through valve support 53 to a gathering ring or annulus44 to which the valve 42 is exposed. Annulus.44 is provided by a counter bore in body member 64 immediately above packer, the mandrel may be provided with one or more ports 58 above the dual seal 56. A second seal provided by seal means 59 is provided above the ports 58 so that the seals 56 and'59 isolate ports 58. It will be recognized that the above-described structure provides a sliding valve betweenthe mandrel and valve support 53. Thus upon an upward pull being exerted on production tubing 12, the ports 58 will be raised past the upper seal 59,

. and pressure will be equalized through these ports to the threaded connection between thebody 64 andvalve support 53. The fluid passes the open. valve 42 and travels through duct 45 to the interior of mandrel 36. to' equalize pressure across the plugl22. in the lower end ofthe mandrel. i If i As in the case of the previously described embodif ment, the actuator 41 is resilientlyloaded by spring 46 compressed between valve support 53 and enlarge ment 41a on actuator 41 to hold the valve in closed position while running. The forces across valve 42 are counterbalanced by an equal and opposite force acting on seal 47 on the actuator over an area defined by seal 41 in the manner heretofore explained.

After valve 42 is unseated, the left-handed helical slips 48, 49 and 51 carried by the valve suppor't'53 are landed in the left-handed threads 52 in the upper. end of production packer 30. These slips are segments formed in the conventional manner with their lower flanks inclined upwardly and their upward flanks extending perpendicular to mandrel 36. With this arrangement, the slip segments will slide down over the teeth of threads 52 but will hold against an upward pull. Of course the teeth can be disengaged by right-hand rotation of tubing 12. The lock-down feature provided by the slips permits pressure to be applied to the producing formation through the production string in the conventional manner to squeeze, sand frac, etc. I

, After the pressure is equalized across plug 22 and 'the slips fully seated within threads 52, the well may be tested, the plug 22 knocked out and the well perforated and produced in the manner heretofore explained in conjunction with the previously described embodiment of this invention.

It is contemplated that it may be desirable at some time to pull the tubing string and that at such time there may be a hydraulic lock across threads 52, that is between pressure above and below production packet and acting on the seal means 38 and 39 to cause. difliculty in releasing the slips. For this reason there: is provided a means for equalizing the pressure above and below the production packer at the will of the operator. As thev tubing may be raised even against such hydraulic lock, it is preferred to provide a valve support 53 which is slidable on mandrel 36. This will necessi tate the annular seals such as those provided by seals 54, 55 and 56in body 64 to confine fluid'flow through the valve assembly and into mandrel 36 when pressure across knockout plug 22 is being equalized. One or more cars 57 should also be carried by mandrel 36 above the valve assembly to force the valve assembly down into the packer.

'- To provide for-relief of any hydraulic lock across the remove any hydraulic lock across seals 38 and 39. Thereafter the tubing may be rotated in clockwise manner to release'the slips from threads 52 in the packer..

To avoid premature exposure of ports 58, the body 64 is preferably I pinned to the ears 57 with one or more shear pins 61. These pins may be sheared by the downward force of production tubing when the assembly is seated in the packer. If not sheared at this time, they will be sheared when the production string is pulled in the manner just explained.

To maintainthe body 64 and valve support 53 on the mandrel after pins 61 have been sheared, a lug 62 is provided on the mandrel and below valve support 53. The valve support engages this lug in the manner shown in FIGURE l0 'when the production tubing is pulled from the well.

The operation of the tool shown in FIGURES 8 through 13 is believed apparent from the above but will be summarized here for convenience. The packer 39 is first run in and set in the casing above the formation to be produced,preferably on a wire line. The tool 35 is then made up .on the production string and run into the Welland seated within the production packer as shownin FIGURE 9; At this time the casing seal is tested in the manner previously explained.

If the casing seal is satisfactory, a perforating gun such as shown in FIGURE 5 is run through the production tubing and the plug 22 knocked out of the lower end of mandrel 36. The formation zone 63 is then perforated and produced through mandrel 36 and production tubing 12 in the conventional manner.

Inasmuch as a full open tubing is provided, it will be appreciated that various procedures may be carried out in well completion and workover. Where these procedures cannot be completed without circulation in the tubing-casing annulus, it will be apparent that the valve support may be released from the packer to permit such circulation. Thereafter the valve support may be again seated in the packer and the annulus above and below the packer will be effectively separated.

In releasing the assembly 35 from the packer, the production tubing 12 is first raised to expose ports 58 and equalize pressure across packer 30. Thereafter, the string is lowered until the cars 57 rest on the valve support. Righthand rotation of the tubing string will engage the ears with the upstanding portion of the valve support to which the ears were previously pinned. Continued rotation of the mandrel will release the valve support from threads 52 and 'the assembly 35 may be pulled out of the packer in the manner illustrated in' FIGURElO. I

Of course it will be apparent that with either form of tool the producing formation could first be perforated by running a gun in the open casing and thereafter the tool of this invention used to cause the formation perforated to commence flowing with substantially atrnospheric pressure and thereby eliminate swabbing the well in. In other words, the formation would be brought in by subjecting it to substantially atmospheric pressure .or to a suitable water or oil cushion and thus produce flow of the formation.

It is also apparent that utilizing the present invention with a water or oil cushion permits pumping the water or oil cushion into the perforated formation followed by an acid or sand frac.

This invention is not to the type of valve assemleasably latching the mandrel in seated position inithe to well fluids, a valve assembly on thefmandrel, seal means carried by at least one of the valve assembly and packer means and seaiing therebetween when the mandrel is seated in the'packer means, said mandrel having port means therein, said valve assembly having fluid conducting means communicating with said portmeans and having a terminus below said seal means when the mandrel is seated in the packer means bore, valve-means controlling flow through the fluid conducting means, said packer means including actuating means, means on the mandrel for engaging the actuating means and opening the valve means responsive to downward movement of the mandrel after said seal means has effected a seal between the mandrel and packer means, means for latching the mandrel in seated position in the packer means and for releasing the mandrel upon rotation thereof, said mandrel having second port means, second valve means controlling flow through the second port means, and means operable upon upward movement of the mandrel relative to the packer means to open the second valve means and thereby release any hydraulic lock across the packer means to permit ready rotation of the mandrel to release the mandrel.

10. As a sub-combination, a completion assembly adapted to be suspended from the lower end of a string of tubing and to be seated in a hook wall packer pre viously landed in a well comprising, a tubular mandrel, means closing the lower end of the mandrel to well fluids, said mandrel having a port extending therethrough a valve supporting member on the mandrel and having fluid-conducting means therein communicating with said port and with the outside of said supporting member, valve means controlling the fluid-conducting means, resilient means urging the valve toward closed position, and valve actuator means depending from the supporting member and adapted to be actuated by engagement with said packer as the tool is landed in said packer, said valve actuator when moved relative to said valve supporting member during landing of the packer moving said valve to open position against the force exerted by said resilient means.

11. As a sub-combination, a completion assembly adapted to be suspended from the lower end of a string of tubing and to be seated in a hook wall packer previously landed in a well comprising, a tubular mandrel, means closing the lower end of the mandrel to well fluids, said mandrel having a port extending therethrough, a valve supporting member on the mandrel and having fluidconducting means therein communicating with said port and with the outside of said supporting member, valve means controlling the fluid-conducting means, resilient means urging the valve means toward closed position, valve actuator means depending from the supporting member and adapted to be actuated by engagement with said packer as the tool is landed in said packer, said valve actuator when moved relative to said valve supporting member during landing of the packer moving said valve to open position against the force exerted by said resilient means, second port means in the mandrel, second valve means carried by the supporting means controlling flow through said second port means, said second valve means operable upon upward movement of the mandrel relative to the valve support means to open the second port means.

12. As a sub-combination, a tubular mandrel having a port therein, means closing the lower end of the mandrel, a valve supporting member fixed to the tubular mandrel and having fluid-conducting means communicating with said port and with the outside of said supporting member, valve means controlling the fluid conducting means, means urging the valve means toward closed position, a valve opening stem-on said valve means having at least a portion extending outside oi' said supporting member, and a valve-operating, housing adapted to be attached to a packer slip assembly and engaging the stem during setting of the packer toopen the valve. I g

13. A well tool comprising 'a tubular mandrel having port means in the side wall thereof, closing the lower end of the mandrel to well fluids, valve means on the mandrel in fluid communication with'said port means for permitting well fluids to enter the mandrel, meanson the mandrel to maintain the valve means in closed position while running the mandrel, and means adapted to be anchored to the wall of a. lwelljor rendering the maintaining means inetfective and opening the valve means upon further downward movement of the mandrel.

14. A well tool comprising, a tubular mandrel having port means in the side wall thereof, means closing the lower end of the mandrel to well fluid, valve means on the exterior of the mandrel in fluid communication with said port means for permitting well fluids to enter the mandrel, means on the mandrel to maintain the valve means in closed position while running the tool, means carried by the mandrel for balancing out the effect of well fluid pressure on the valve means to prevent formation of a hydraulic lock across the valve means, and means adapted to be anchored to the wall of a well for rendering the maintaining means ineffective and opening the valve means upon further downward movement of the mandrel.

15. A well tool comprising, a full open tubular mandrel adapted to be suspended from a production tubing and form a continuation thereof, a knock-out plug sealing the lower end of the mandrel, means adapted to seal between the mandrel and the casing of a well in which the tool is run, fluid-conducting means in the mandrel exposed to fluid below the seal means, valve means controlling flow through the fluid-conducting means, means including an actuator rod on the exterior of the mandrel and resilient means urging the actuator rod towards valve-closing position for retaining the valve means in closed position, and means carried by the mandrel engaging the actuator rod and moving it to valve-opening position upon downward movement of the mandrel relative to the seal means to open the valve means.

16. A testing and production apparatus comprising, hook wall packer means including a tubular mandrel and means surrounding and movable relative to said mandrel including seal means adapted to seal between the mandrel and the wall of a well in which the tool is run, means closing the lower end of the mandrel, a valve sup port member surrounding the mandrel and fixed thereto on its lower end, said valve support member having at least one opening therethrough, each opening being parallel to the axis of the mandrel and each opening having a lower valve guide portion and an upper duct portion, a valve overlying and controlling each of said duct portions and having a stem extending downwardly through the duct portion and through and below the corresponding guide portion, means providing a.- seal between said stem and the guide portion, spring means for urging said valve downwardly to seal the upper end of its duct portion, said mandrel having a port therein communicating with said opening intermediate said valve and seal means, and a valve-operating housing fixed to said surrounding means and underlying the lower end of the stems whereby when the tubing is moved downwardly with respect to said surrounding means to set the packer, the stems will abut said housing and open the valves.

17. The tool of claim 16 wherein the means closing the lower end of the mandrel is a plug in the bore of the mandrel which is frictionally retained in the mandrel but 11 slhehetseeble the etr n when 9S Within he m 59! sz ei l the pte ttte tsil 9t eist m nd e e gnetn 9!?!P 8 e hee wa l Peeks? 9 fila P15 5 means elis yy IBQHPFFd Q11 the m nixel fq nga in th we 0 e Well, a a e up ort 1191.??? ent ee sl n e mand el tha fi te t e e? below the ee esist me ns ten al e See memb r a i at lea-ht in the e hte a h; 'eesh p n ng in peyells t9 the new: t the h l nd each ni nv es a l we ve s tti per neh t; up du pnrt ign, nvelve pve rlfiqng' and cg'ntrplling each of said (19st n rtie e em! ha i t m ex e di downwardly hyeukh th duet e tiehehd h t h en helew the g e-i 139 .3??? wees r' a e between ei eh th de F th ih's theahs fer urging sqid valvedpyvnwerdly t'o seel the upper end of its duct 291V? send nigndrel having 1 port 'cgmndxinicating with said qgening intermedinte said valve and seal means, a

alv e erat s ousing fix d t9 sai en agin m ans and underlying the lower end of the stems whereby when the m ndrel s mov d dow wa w e pect t9 he e a ng me ns th stems wil abe en hpusins end 299 he a ves, and a P1128 i he e a th we ens ef'the mehdre s i the m nd l. sa Plu be n f ctiona ly retained in he ma d u be d er able th reif rom fxom fQICS therein exceeding the pressg re qutside of said mandrel.

References Cited in the file Qf this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,112,676 Collins Get, 6, 1914 4369 7 3 tump NQ 1 .0 2,109,745 Hayward Mar. 1,, 1938 2 8- 1 el ih t ten 2 1.238 2,197,078 McKinley Apr. 1 6, l 94( 

